What has been happening over at DC Studios has easily been one of the most shocking developments of the year. David Ellison, the head of Skydance, following the merger between Paramount and Warner Bros., has let go of James Gunn and Peter Safran as the heads of DC Studios. Former Marvel executive producer Jeremy Latcham is now taking over the studio.

This was a change that many people saw coming, but no one expected it to happen this soon, especially after Ellison had previously promised that Gunn and Safran would be allowed to continue their work and carry out their vision for the franchise.

Gunn and Safran came aboard in October 2022, with Gunn handling the creative side of the studio and Safran overseeing the business and production side. The duo were to rebuild DC Studios after years of inconsistent releases, creative disagreements, and a lack of direction. Their plan was to establish a connected universe akin to what Marvel Studios had built, with several projects announced as part of an ambitious new DCU slate. However, the reception to the projects released under their leadership has been mixed, to say the least.

James Gunn’s Superman was a moderate success, earning $619 million worldwide. Gunn’s more personal passion projects, such as Creature Commandos and Peacemaker, largely stayed under the radar. But nothing has raised more questions about the studio’s direction than Supergirl, which struggled at the box office with just $126 million worldwide. The film also failed to resonate with critics and audiences in the way the studio had hoped. 

Clayface was another intriguing release from the studio. Introducing a Batman villain in a standalone body horror project was a risky move, but it was also one of the more creative and inspired decisions DC Studios had made in my opinion. The film had a positive reception and managed to earn more than its production budget. However, despite the good reception, it wasn’t the kind of financial success that could significantly change the studio’s fortunes. 

DC Studios’s latest project, Lanterns, was a resounding success on the other hand. The project had one of the biggest debuts on HBO, however, the fate of the project is currently in limbo.

Now, there is a lot of confusion and uncertainty as these developments continue to unfold. We have decided to share what we have been hearing on our Nexus Off the Record segment, where we share information we haven’t been able to confirm fully.

Things are particularly complicated because Gunn still has Man of Tomorrow scheduled to release next year. One of the biggest questions people have been asking is: Will Gunn still have the final cut over the movie? All signs point to no. 

Sources suggest that several of the cameos originally planned for the movie are expected to be removed. Several sources mentioned that reshoots are happening soon. Blue Beetle and Supergirl are two characters who may not make the final cut. It is said that the characters who aren’t expected to have a place in the new direction of the DCU will be removed rather than carried over into future projects. Sources indicate David Corenswet is expected to remain as Superman under the new leadership, even as the film’s supporting cast is reworked. 

Wonder Woman is another particularly interesting situation. Sources say Adria Arjona is indeed playing Wonder Woman, but there is still a decision to be made about her future. The studio could decide to keep her as Wonder Woman or remove her scenes entirely and recast the character without any damage since the character has not been officially confirmed. A decision is yet to be made.

Batman is another massive question mark. One source says Skydance wants to keep Robert Pattinson as its Batman, but there are several moving pieces that make the situation complicated. With Matt Reeves’ Batman universe operating separately from the DCU, bringing Pattinson into the main universe would require some major decisions. The recent Bond situation could potentially thwart everything since a 007 commitment would limit his availability for a possible The Batman Part 3 or any potential move into the new DCU. In other words, the future of Batman may rest with MI6. Another complication also lies with Robert Pattinson’s willingness to commit to this franchise beyond The Batman Part 2.

Ultimately, the financial side of things appears to be Skydance’s biggest concern. They want DC movies to generate significant profits, and they don’t believe that focusing on lesser-known characters like Clayface is the way to achieve that. Their priority appears to be getting the bigger names and more recognizable characters into their own solo movies as quickly as possible. Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman are the main priorities currently.

There are still many moving pieces and it makes it hard to get a clear visual of Skydance’s DC Studios plans — if they have any concrete plans at all. While some information from sources contradict, one thing everyone has been hearing is that Man of Tomorrow will have mandatory reshoots and some characters will be removed.